Some of you have been asking where was my Relay for Life blog because you could not find it here. Well, it is here now, though a few days after the fact. I now have more photos for you to see. As I finally got around to working on them. I slept most of yesterday (even though Jason kept prodding me awake) and needed the catchup. So if you want to check out how my Saturday went read on.

Good Afternoon, Yuma! The heat is on, the people are cheerful and the Relay is getting under way. I’ll be blogging here from the tent at Team Freedom Fighters. Our official name is Freedom Fighters for a Cure. We are about 20 to 25 people strong. The photo shows my view from the blogger’s table.

For the uninitiated, Relay for Life is an event of the American Cancer Society in which thousands of walkers (called Relayers) across the United States hot foot it to fight cancer. This year’s Relay in Yuma is here at the Kennedy Park, specifically on the ballfields. Our opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m. so those of you who aren’t here yet have some time to get down here. We’ll be walking all night long in support of (or in memory or honor) of those who have cancer or have died of the disease.

Here’s a quick line up:

6 p.m. Opening Ceremony

6:45 Survivor’s Lap

7 p.m. Yuma Ballet Theatre will be performing

Let me give you a quick run down on what is happening right now. The music of Mario Lopez is pumping and the luminaries are being placed around the edge of two baseball fields, which I am told is almost 3/4th’s of a mile. I can smell popcorn wafting on the air and an army of coolers is passing me by filled with lots of goodies, drinks and what ever else.

So, come on down come visit the Freedom Fighter’s booth (The Sun’s Relay team) and feel free to leave an online tribute to a loved one at this year’s Relay for Life. Look for me (Amy Crawford). I’m wearing a big yellow tie-died shirt! In the meantime, I am off to find a card reader so we can show you some photos!

UPDATE: 5:45

OK. Team photos are under way, grills are firing up and most teams are here. One group is setting up next to us. A lot of folks are walking the track already, with wagons, baby strollers, wheelchairs and walkers with wheels. I’ve even seen a bicycle and a tricked out-golf cart! Most folks are still arriving so the strollers and wagons are laden with blankets, pillows and other overnight goodies (i.e. snacks, coolers, flashlights, etc.).

I smell carne asada and it is making me hungry. Our luminarias are out in front and they will stay dark until the lighting ceremony at 8:30. If you’ve never seen this lighting ceremony it is something you won’t want to miss. The chairwoman (or other designee) gives the signal and teams start lighting the candles. Then the lights on the ballfield are dimmed (some are turned off completely). Well, I don’t want to give it all away. Maybe we’ll have some photos for you by then.

About the team camp sites: To give an estimated guess (I haven’t had a moment to go get official information yet) I would say there are about 100 teams. An update on the number of Freedom Fighters is 33. Each team campsite is decorated in a theme. Ours is a ’60s theme with Beatles posters, The Doors and a Jimi Hendrix blowup. Oh! Another bike! Most teams raise money for Relay all night long by hosting fundraisers at their campsites. I’ll give more details on those later after I’ve had a chance to mosey around a bit.

UPDATE: 7:25

We’ve gotten through the Opening Ceremony, which included a presentation by Richie Gerber’s family (sorry if I missed spelled the name!). That was a tear-jerker. To read more about the Gerbers and their fight against cancer, click here. I have some official updates that I scribbled on the back of my hand. Deb Johnson, the chairwoman for this year’s Relay, said about 70 teams are walking tonight with about 1,000 participants. It’s one of the biggests Relays ever!

I went up on the announcer’s booth to take a photo and I couldn’t fit the crowd in one frame. Plus the chain-link fence was in the way, but I’ll try to post some of the photos. We have plans to go nab a card reader from the office so please be patient with our technical difficulties . We have lots of people walking past our booth. We’re selling candy and some tasty treats from one of our team members, Emily. If you get a hankering for chocolate, come grab some “Far Out Chocolate Chip Cookies.” I’ve heard they’re really tasty.

After our opening ceremony, the Survivor’s took off around the track lead by the Gerber family. I believe there are about 250 survivors this year in the Relay.

Yuma is also taking part in the CPS3 survey this year. I’ll tell you more about that after I feed my hungry tummy.

UPDATE 10:14 p.m.

I am at the newspaper uploading some links and photos and other things that take too long to deal with in the field. You may have wondered where I went. Dinner. My husband and I have our six-month wedding anniversary tomorrow and we wanted to celebrate with some friends at Julianna’s Patio Cafe. Just so now you know I wasn’t out cow tipping (or doing any other naughty deed).

UPDATE 11:20 p.m.

The night is turning cool and it’s not yet midnight. I’ve had a chance to walk around and take a look at some of the fine team campsites. Yuma folks can be awfully creative. Sites run the gamit from simple easy-up set ups to elaborate light-linned get ups with sparkling lights and couches and what not. It’s cool. The walking is going on in earnest. Everything is covered in a fine layer of red dust, but it’s all good. Still working on the photos. Enjoy the ones from Lisa Miller right now and here is a link to her survivors lap video. This just in. Someone accidentally tipped over a luminaria in front of our camp. It was a brief respite from the quiet of the night. Thank God there was no domino effect. But I’m sure the fire brigade would have been right over. After all of us had a good dance of fire footsie.

UPDATE 12:06 a.m.

At last! I have figured out how to resize the photos in iPhoto (and hope it works). You all should see a luminaria photo soon! But all this would not have happened without my partner and husband, Jason. He just came by with warm clothing and a kiss goodnight. It’s getting chillier (is that even a word?). The walking has slowed down.

Amy’s taking a short break so I, Rachel, am signing on (or making sure the computer doesn’t get stolen- whatever). I got here after work and was relieved when I finally got my luminarias lit, donations turned in, and some number of walking laps under my belt. Now that I’ve seen Ed in a dreadlock rasta hat, I really can’t ask for much more. I think this kind of event really brings out the best in us: Staying up all night for hope against cancer, trusting acquaintances with money order donations, coworkers coming up with a conspicous amount of stuff for the 60s theme…

UPDATE 2:12 a.m.

I have my laps under my belt now and I feel beat (plus we are getting low on battery power). Other folks are starting to look a little worn for wear (OK, that is most of the adults. The kids are STILL laughing and playing). A cool campsite I came across (the good folks at one of the local churches) has a prayer knot-type booth. You can say a prayer and tie your strip of material to already existing prayers. The whole thing is held up by ladders and a few other odd items. And I found the booth of the “Fro Dudes.” At least that is what I am calling them. I don’t know who they are but these guys (maybe gals?) keep swooping by on the track with huge red fro wigs from the 1960s. Remember that hair craze? They are the most upbeat folks I’ve seen tonight and they are playing a game about five sites up from ours.

I have heard several wishes for coffee and one for hot chocolate. As hot as it was today who knew that the night would be this cool? Although I expected the walk to wake me up, I’ve found the sugar rush from the Red Vines works much better. I sure could use some Starbucks right now. Maybe they will have a campsite here next year. Perhaps.

I should fill you in on the CPS3 Study, but I am down to 8 percent battery power. Here is the short of it: cancer is said to run in my family. I have never had cancer, but my dad died of it when I was a wee lass (OK, I was 13). And I miss him. If giving up a few moments of my life every year will help find a cure for this disease, or even just reveal new ways of fighting it, I can do that. Cancer is not something you would wish on your worst enemy. We’re all in this fight together and the more folks who are willing to be research subjects, the higher the odds are that we will prevail in our fight against this disease.

I have to get some shut eye and change the battery. I’ll be back in a few hours.

UPDATE 7:09 a.m.

Well, that was quite a few hours. Actually, I tried to update the blog at 5:20 this morning. Only the computer battery died just as I was starting to type. And that backup turned out to be for a different notebook. Ah. The joys of technology. But that was only part of the morning fun. Relay for Life is one of the few times of the year that I actually get to watch the sun rise and we had a beautiful sunrise this morning. At first the edge of the horizon turned a dark blue azure. Then slowly lightened to a dark baby blue, then it pinked up the few clouds in the eastern sky. Man, what a moment. And of course, this was welcomed by Relayers who were asleep with a few groans of “It’s morning already?”.

Yes, it’s morning. The closing ceremony is at 8 a.m., but our camp was pretty much packed up when I left a few moments ago (nature was calling for me). We had a great treat this morning from our Newspapers In Education guru Karen Phillips: breakfast burritos! I also saw some Starbucks cups on hand as Relayers walked the track with their morning cup of java, or perhaps it was the dregs of the get-me-through-the-night java. There was plenty of energy to go around at 6 this morning as some teens wrapped in sleeping bags raced by our camp squeeling in delight. Maybe they should figure out a way to tap that energy in a drink for adults that is something other than coffee.

I moseyed around a bit somemore this morning and took some final photos. I will be uploading them later today (much, much later) either to the gallery or the Hitesman family Web site. I spoke with the people at First Presbyterian, who put out the prayer ties. I think that and Richie Gerber’s family were probably the most inspirational at the Relay this year (at least for me).

I am also cleaning up typos and name misspellings. I admit that I made a few of those. This live blogging thing is new to a lot of us and, well, there are bound to be kinks. So until I get some good shut-eye, I will be signing off and this blog will be moving from its “Breaking News” category to just regular news.

Thanks so much for reading.

Amy

This entry was posted on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 6:01 pm and is filed under General, Out of the Mouth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.